By Olivia McCrillis
BANGOR, ME- Every Wednesday students at Husson University are seen wearing military uniforms, some don’t know exactly what this means. Wednesday’s are the days that the students involved in ROTC wear their uniforms. But many have wondered what exactly is ROTC? What does it take to get involved, and how much of a commitment is it?
For those of you who don’t know, ROTC stands for Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. ROTC is training for students who are in search of learning leadership skills. It trains students that wanted to be involved in the US armed forces to become officers after they graduate college. At Husson specifically it’s to help students become part of the Army.
However, ROTC isn’t as much of an immediate commitment as initially getting involved in the army outside of school. With ROTC at Husson you don’t have to swear in until you’ve found exactly what it is you want to do in the army. You are required to swear in by the end of your junior year, that way they are able to get you prepared for commission. Commission is the act of swearing in to the army.
Sophomore ROTC student at Husson University, Katelyn Boyington says, “I got involved because I thought I wanted to go into the Army to walk in my mom and dad’s footsteps. I also got involved because I thought it was for me and that I could do it.” After being involved in the ROTC for some time now she says, “It has made me a more disciplined student and gave me the ability to enhance my time management.”
The ROTC is a very large commitment and you have to attend physical training every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. As well as an additional lab on Wednesdays, the occasional weekend commitment, and a three week training for the Army every semester. In addition to the time commitment and training that ROTC involves, you also are able to get some college credits for the commitment that you make and the lab that is required of you.
For people who are looking into ROTC Boyington gives this advice, “Don’t put too much on your plate, and stay motivated. It’s a lot of time commitment, but if you have the heart to do it, then do it. Nobody can tell you what to do and how to live”
Although ROTC isn’t the same as the initial process of the army when you first swear in, it is still a significant commitment that is not to be taken lightly. But once you do join the forces after being involved in ROTC at college, you are automatically an officer rather than starting from the bottom like people who weren’t involved in ROTC prior to joining the Army.
For those of you who have any questions about the ROTC or would like to join you need to contact the Master Sergeant O’Brien of Orono’s ROTC program.
